Cisco Catalyst Middle Template Labs – Superior Automation, Half 7

Overview

On this, the final episode of our ongoing Catalyst Middle Automation Sequence, our focus is on superior automation strategies which permit us to resolve varied use instances inside a community from Catalyst Middle. Throughout this lab, we are going to talk about easy methods to modify varied velocity templates to cope with particular use instances in order that Catalyst Middle provisioning can allow these use instances through automation. This permits you, the community administrator, the power to resolve extra sorts of configuration points from Catalyst Middle and to cope with the dynamics of an enterprise community.

Inside this collection, we cowl the next;

1. PnP Preparation – explains the general Plug and Play arrange steps
2. Onboarding Templates – explains in-depth easy methods to deploy Day 0 templates
3. Day N Templates – dives into Day N template constructs with each common and composite templates and use instances
4. Utility Policys – explores Utility Policys and SD-AVC in Catalyst Middle and their use
5. Telemetry – explains easy methods to deploy Telemetry for assurance
6. Superior Automation – explores Superior Automation strategies
7. Dynamic Automation – a deployment lab for dynamic automation

What’s going to I study within the Superior Automation Lab?

That is an enablement kind module inside the Wired Automation lab and it permits prospects to succeed in past what they at the moment perceive by attempting new ideas, actually push the boundaries of automation. Throughout this lab, we are going to cowl varied matters with regard to template logic to resolve varied use instances. We cowl some earlier ideas with an in-depth concentrate on broadening their capabilities.

The idea of this lab is so that you can rebuild the common templates to solidify your understanding of templates, and so that you could be substitute them into the composite to check with. Completely different strategies for the various use instances might be given explaining each the professionals and cons alongside the way in which. Develop your capabilities with this lab and take your talents to the following stage. You’re solely inhibited by your personal creativeness.

Subjects

The varied matters we are going to contact on within the lab include the next:

1. Self-deleting EEM scripts
2. Working with Arrays and Strategies in Velocity
3. Utilizing Conditional Statements for Configuration
4. Velocity and Allow versus Interactive mode
5. Assigning port configuration in a stack
6. Autoconf vs Smartports
7. IBNS 2.0 configuration

Use Circumstances

We’ll cowl the Subjects above in various use instances to indicate the aptitude and adaptability of the templating engine inside Catalyst Middle. Whereas we are going to make the most of Velocity language the identical will be achieved within the Jinja2 language.

1. Renaming interfaces
2. Constructing Stacks
3. Assigning port configuration
4. Autoconf port configuration
5. Non SDA IBNS 2.0 port configuration

With that, the lab covers these matters in-depth;

We’ll achieve a sensible understanding of the steps related to establishing Catalyst Middle and an atmosphere to assist complicated, superior, common templates to ship gadget configuration throughout these labs. The labs goal to assist engineers in quickly starting utilizing Catalyst Middle automation and assist them work in the direction of a worldwide template technique. Moreover, these labs will give prospects a everlasting place to check out the common and composite templates and embody configurations for varied use instances. Lastly, this atmosphere will allow engineers to cut back the effort and time wanted to instantiate the community.

Further issues lined within the lab;

Autoconf

In these labs, we are going to use Autoconf which is an answer that can be utilized to handle port configurations for information or voice VLAN, high quality of service (QoS) parameters, storm management, and MAC-based port safety on finish units which can be deployed within the entry layer of a community. Machine classification is enabled while you allow the Autoconf characteristic utilizing the autoconf allow international configuration mode command. The gadget detection acts as an occasion set off, which in flip applies the suitable computerized template to the interface. When the Autoconf characteristic is enabled utilizing the autoconf allow command, the default Autoconf service coverage is utilized to all of the interfaces. For extra details about Autoconf.

Self-Destructing EEM scripts

Self-Destructing EEM scripts are people who delete themselves on termination. Throughout the EEM script, it has code that removes the EEM applet from the configuration, after which the configuration is written to NVRAM previous to terminating. The makes use of for such a script are quite a few, and this lab covers one particular use case however an imaginative thoughts can provide you with many different makes use of for such a characteristic.

IBNS 2.0 Configuration

Whereas not overlaying all of the facets of IBNS 2.0, we cowl the configuration that we might implement to be able to permit for automating host onboarding inside a non-SD-Entry campus community. These ideas whereas not constructed into a proper UI inside Catalyst Middle for legacy networks permit organizations that want to automate their infrastructure the possibility to automate.

The format of the code inside all these sections of the lab is in a straightforward copy-to-paste window permitting you to import them into Catalyst Middle just by pasting them into the editor.

How can I get began?

Inside DCLOUD, a number of sandbox-type labs can be found. These self-contained environments are there to let you use them as you please inside the time scheduled. As well as, this permits us a spot to start out training varied ideas with out worry of impacting manufacturing environments.

In consequence, we hope to demystify among the complexities of establishing automation and assist information prospects by means of the caveats. Due to this fact, to assist prospects within the transition towards automation, now we have put collectively a set of small useful labs inside a GitHub repository. On this approach, these self-guided labs present a glimpse into the basics of constructing velocity templates and supply examples you can obtain and develop from. As well as, the pattern templates and JSON information provided are for simple import into Catalyst Facilities’ template editor for faster adoption. Lastly, some scripts are ready-made excerpts of code that let you construct the atmosphere to check.

Throughout the Wired Automation lab, within the Superior Automation module, we step-by-step delve into superior automation strategies and methods to make the most of them to resolve varied use instances. Second, we offer solutions and explanations to lots of the questions that come up throughout automation workshops. We hope that you simply discover the data each useful and informative.

The place can I take a look at and check out these labs?

DCLOUD Lab Surroundings

To assist prospects succeed with Cisco Catalyst Middle automation, chances are you’ll make the most of the above labs as they’ve been designed to work inside DCLOUD’s Cisco Enterprise Networks {Hardware} Sandbox Labs in both:

1. Cisco Enterprise Networks {Hardware} Sandbox West DC
2. Cisco Enterprise Networks {Hardware} Sandbox East DC

The DCLOUD labs let you run these labs and offers an atmosphere to strive the varied code samples. It’s possible you’ll select to develop and export your code to be used in manufacturing environments. Additionally, this provides you an atmosphere the place you’ll be able to safely POC/POV strategies and steps with out harming your manufacturing environments. The DCLOUD atmosphere additionally negates the necessity for delivery tools, lead occasions, and licensing points wanted to get transferring quickly. Please do adhere to one of the best practices for the DCLOUD atmosphere when utilizing it.

Lab Connectivity

The atmosphere permits to be used with a web-based browser consumer for VPN-less connectivity, entry in addition to AnyConnect VPN consumer connectivity for individuals who favor it. It’s possible you’ll select from labs hosted out of our San Jose Services by choosing US West. Select the Cisco Enterprise Community Sandbox. To entry this or another content material, together with demonstrations, labs, and coaching in DCLOUD please work together with your Cisco Account workforce or Cisco Companion Account Crew instantly. Your Account groups will schedule the session and share it so that you can use. As soon as booked observe the information inside GitHub to finish the duties adhering to one of the best practices of the DCLOUD atmosphere.

Content material

The Wired Automation labs, Superior Automation module content material is positioned inside the present DNAC-TEMPLATES repository to offer a one-stop-shop for all the mandatory instruments, scripts, templates, and code samples. Inside it are seven labs, which construct upon the tutorials to check the strategies in a lab atmosphere. The repository was featured in a earlier submit on Cisco Blogs about Catalyst Middle Templates earlier in Might 2021.

Further Info

Catalyst Middle Template Labs

The beforehand named DNAC Template LABS inside the DNAC-TEMPLATES GitHub repository goal to information you thru the everyday steps required to allow the varied automation duties delivered by Catalyst Middle. This lab will give examples of templates utilized in Catalyst Middle that we are able to modify for our use and take a look at on tools inside the LAB atmosphere. Further info inside the lab gives a well-rounded clarification of Automation strategies with Templates. Lastly, the lab permits for purchasers to make use of Catalyst Middle workflows to follow deploying Onboarding, DayN Templates, and Utility Coverage automation on each Wired and Wi-fi Platforms.

The aim of this lab is for it to be a sensible information to assist engineers to quickly start utilizing Catalyst Middle automation and assist them work in the direction of a deployment technique. Moreover, this lab will give prospects a everlasting place to check out the configurations for varied use instances. Lastly, this atmosphere will allow engineers to cut back the effort and time wanted to instantiate the community.

In consequence, you’ll achieve expertise in establishing Plug and Play onboarding and templates and using all options. Moreover, you’ll use superior templating strategies and troubleshooting instruments. These might assist throughout faultfinding to find out what’s failing in a deployment.

Catalyst Middle Labs

Please use this menu to navigate the varied sections of this GitHub repository. Throughout the a number of folders are examples and clarification readme information for reference. There are actually two units of labs, and these are being frequently expanded upon.

In conclusion, should you discovered this set of labs and repository useful,

please fill in feedback and suggestions on the way it may very well be improved.

We’d love to listen to what you assume. Ask a query or depart a remark beneath.
And keep linked with Cisco on social!

Take a look at our Cisco Networking video channel

Subscribe to the Networking weblog

Share: